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The Browns will have to wait to see their new franchise quarterback take the field.According to multiple reports, the NFL's disciplinary officer ruled Monday that Deshaun Watson would be suspendedfor the first six games of the 2022 season following civil lawsuits from 24 different ma sage therapists alleging sexual a sault and misconduct. The NFL will be appealing the ruling.Watson had and was not facing criminal charges after two grand juries decline to charge him.The length of the suspension was the decision ofretired federal judge Younghoe Koo Jersey Sue L. Robinson, whooversaw the Watson disciplinary hearings in June. She noted that Watson's helped him avoid a longer suspension.Although this is the most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of non-violent sexual conduct, Mr. Watson's pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam came out in support of Robinson's ruling in a statement on Monday."We respect Judge Robinson's decision, and at the same time, empathize and understand that there have been many individuals triggered throughout this proce s," the Haslams wrote. "We know Deshaun is remorseful that this situation has caused much heartache to many and he will continue the work needed to show who he is on and off the field, and we will continue to support him." Cleveland Browns (@Browns) The NFLPA will not appeal the six-game suspension levied against Watson. Initially, that the NFLPA was prepared to defend Watson and target the league's handling of off-field controversy by owners Daniel Snyder, Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones if Watson was suspended an entire year.However, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, the NFL decided to appeal the six-game suspension. Commi sioner Roger Goodell will have to decide who will hear the appeal. Goodell, himself, could hear the NFL's appeal. it had responded to the NFL's appeal on Friday.From Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) Why did Watson get a six-game suspension from the NFL, and what does it mean for him and the Browns? Here's what to know about Robinson's decision and how it will impact the league moving forward.DeCOURCY eshaun Watson was suspended for the first sixgames of Feleipe Franks Jersey the 2022 NFL season. That ended up being well short of the indefinite suspension that the NFL initially pushed for in the case. had previously explained the league wanted to suspend Watson indefinitely while targeting at least a year on the ban. explained the reasoning for the year being that it would end in March 2023, which would move Watson past the two-year statute of limitations for future sexual misconduct lawsuits, a suming he did not seek ma sage therapists out after March 2021.However, Robinson ruled that Watson's suspension should last only six games.As such, he will be eligible to return in Week 7 when the Browns face the Ravens in Baltimore. That will markthe first time the Browns quarterback would play in a regular-season game since Jan. 3, 2021, when the Texans lost to the Titans., offenders are given a "baseline suspension without pay of six games, with consideration given to any aggravating or mitigating factors." Violations involve a sault, battery, domestic violence or sexual a sault. Players do not need to be found guilty or charged with a crime to be suspended under the policy.The NFLPA and Deshaun Watson ahead of the ruling saying they would not be appealing Robinson's decision. They called on the NFL to do the same."In advance of Judge Robinsons decision, we wanted to reiterate the facts of this proceeding," the NFLPA and Watson wrote on Sunday. "First, we have fully cooperated with every NFL inquiry and provided the NFL with the most comprehensive set of information for any Personal Conduct Policy investigation. A former federal judge appointed jointly by the NFLPA and NFL held a full and fair hearing, has read thousands of pages of investigative documents and reviewed arguments from both sides impartially.Every player, owner, busine s partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our proce s is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the league office. This is why, regardle s of her decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.Watson's decision not to appeal comes despite the fact that his counsel believes that the quarterback shouldn't have received a suspension at all, per CBS Sports' Josina Anderson.While Sue Robinson's 6-game suspension falls notably short of the indefinite suspension of at least 1-year that the NFL was seeking, I'm told Deshaun Watson's counsel & Todd Gurley II Jersey reps are currently displeased with the ruling. Watson's side still firmly maintain it should have been 0 games. IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) Now that the NFL is appealing the decision by Robinson, either Goodell or a designee will hear why the NFL believes the suspension should not be the six games. Neither party can present evidence that was not used in the previous hearing. It will be an expedited proce s.According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL is going to push for an indefinite suspension of Watson.Robinson was a jointly appointed arbiter in the Watson case. The NFL appealing that decision could rankle the NFLPA, so it's unclear whether the league would want to take that risk, especially considering that this is one of the first cases to be ruled on by an independent arbiter.That said, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that the NFL had pushed for a 12-game suspension and a hefty fine in settlement talks with Watson. Watson was only suspended half as many games and wasn't fined. Dorian Etheridge Jersey Per sources, Deshaun Watson and the NFL did engage in further settlement talks in recent days, but neither side felt they got close. The best Watsons side indicated it would accept was 6-8 games. Best league indicated it was willing to do was 12 games + heavy fine $8 mil range). Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) The disparity between what the NFL fought for and what the NFL got could convince the league to appeal. However, appeals can take some time, as evidenced by the Tom Brady Deflategate suspension in 2015. It took more than a month for commi sioner Roger Goodell to decide to uphold the suspension.Given how late Watson's suspension was announced, it is po sible the appeal proce s could still be underway when the NFL season officially begins, which could potentially delay the suspension into the season and allow him to play part of the campaign. The NFL would likely want the ordeal wrapped up before the season begins, so it may not appeal Robinson's decision as a result.Either way, the ball is in the NFL's court for the next move in the Watson saga; if the league opts not to appeal, the Browns quarterback will officially be suspended for six games.The first 21 lawsuits against Watson were all filed in March 2021. The first two claimed Watson exposed himself and touched the two ma sage therapists with his penis in March and August 2020, respectively. The third claimed Watson forced the woman through to perform oral sex in December 2020.The were all filed on March 19, 2021, with claims of inappropriate contact made by Watson to ma sage therapists, and the fourth claimed Watson tried to ki s a woman against her will.The next seven were filed on March 22, 2021. They featured incidents ranging from April 2020 to March 2021.MORE: Two more lawsuits were filed against Watson on March 23, 2021, with similar accusations to previous plaintiffs and another three were filed on March 28 saying Watson "purposely" touched women with his penis. Watson reached out on Instagram in since-deleted me sages in an attempt to settle, but Watson's attorney reached out to them directly and said since March 15.On March Marlon Davidson Jersey 30, 2021, , including one that claimed Watson groped a ma sage therapist, coerced her into oral sex and ejaculated on her.Hardin i sued a pre s release on March 31 that featured statements from 18 ma sage therapists supporting Watson.Deshaun Watsons attorney Rusty Hardin has now i sued a pre s release with what he says are 18 ma sage therapists who support Watson. Here is a sample: Ben Volin (@BenVolin) The 22nd lawsuit was filed on April 2, 2021, claiming Watson "a saulted and hara sed plaintiff by touching her with his penis and exposing himself."On April 8, for hearings to determine whether the identities of the accusers should be disclosed, adding in a statement that "Mr. Tony Buzbee's use of anonymous lawsuits violates Texas law and the basic concept of fairne s.", a 23rd lawsuit was filed on April 14, 2021, with claims from a Houston makeup artist that Watson had sexually a saulted and hara sed her during ma sages in September 2020 and November 2020.In March 2022, Watson in a criminal case. There had been 10 criminal complaints field against him and nine of them had been rejected. Prosecutors did not present the 10th complaint."We are delighted |
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